Barbie Dolls is named for my mother Barbara Johnson who loved, above all else, being with her granddaughters whom she called "porcelain dolls."  

Sadie was her first; Danie was her spirited twin; and Micah was her actual twin. Being with them at Lincoln Park Zoo or any museum  gave her life and she relished  in their innocence, curiosity and intellect. 

In 2000, my mom went to Rome for 10 days and rushed right to us when she returned to the states. She couldn't wait to see her granddaughters' faces when she gave them the blue mesh bags swinging  from their shoulders in the photo.

"Zion, take our picture! Girls, give Grandma Barbie a hug and a kiss!"   The moment is frozen in my memory like the climax of a movie.

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after I snapped this photo, and in 2002, she died at age 57. Ironically, in 2022, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the same age and drew on my mom's faith and spirit as I walked through the nine-month treatment.

Nearly a year after completing radiation, now I'm ready to join the race to raise money and awareness of the scourge that is breast cancer, striking 1 in 2 women over 40 and killing Black women at a 40 percent higher rate than white women.

Please support us in protecting our girls, and read more about my journey at cancerinspired.com

Join Barbie Dolls or donate here:  https://secure.qgiv.com/event/972024beyondamammogramhydepark5k/account/1774000/